In full: ‘This is a day of shame’, Rishi Sunak apologises for infected blood scandal

Rishi Sunak has apologised for the infected blood scandal on a “day of shame” for the British state.

The Prime Minister told MPs that he wanted “to make a wholehearted and unequivocal apology for this terrible injustice,” which marks the first time the Government has formally said sorry in the decades-long tragedy.

He said it was “an apology by the state to every single person impacted by this scandal,” stretching back to the 1970s, adding in the Commons: “This is a day of shame for the British state.”

It followed the conclusion of a five-year inquiry on Monday into how 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis, more than 3,000 of whom have died, after being given contaminated blood products to treat illnesses.

The long-awaited report revealed the health service and government led a “chilling” cover-up of the worst treatment disaster in NHS history.

Mr Sunak vowed to ensure “comprehensive compensation” was paid “whatever it costs” and that ministers would set out in detail imminently how they would address the inquiry’s recommendations.

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